Science & Tech · Cybersecurity · 4 hrs ago
Discover-Tech heavily targeted Starlink users in more than 100 countries
Researchers say Discover-Tech was a leading bidder for ads shown to Starlink users in more than 100 countries.
The Israeli advertising company was identified by TrendAI, which had used the codename Shadow-Earth-79 in its findings.
Starlink, owned by SpaceX, provides satellite internet that can work where local networks are restricted or unavailable.
Its use in conflict zones, including Ukraine, has made it an important way to communicate and coordinate activity.
TrendAI found the company accounted for about 12.9% of winning ads in its Starlink sample, nearly five times its share across general internet traffic.
Researchers said the pattern was more consistent with tracking than ordinary advertising, though the findings do not prove who was behind it or how the data was used.
Discover-Tech has also been linked by Citizen Lab and Confiant to ads that delivered spyware, and Google and other companies have removed it from their ad platforms.
SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment, and the sources report no further public action on the Starlink findings.
TrendAI researchers found that Discover-Tech was the top bidder for Starlink ad impressions in more than 100 countries.
Six people familiar with the matter said TrendAI’s codename for the company was Shadow-Earth-79.
Researchers suspect the bidding may have been used to locate or monitor Starlink users, but the findings do not establish that anyone was actually tracked.
TrendAI’s report said the bidding patterns were consistent with tracking infrastructure rather than a commercial advertising operation.
Discover-Tech and its chief executive did not respond to requests for comment, and SpaceX also did not respond.
- Who
- Discover-Tech, an Israeli advertising technology company, was identified by sources as the entity TrendAI called Shadow-Earth-79.
- What
- It was the top bidder for ads shown to Starlink users in more than 100 countries. Researchers suspect the activity may have enabled geolocation or other surveillance.
- When
- TrendAI published its report on October 15; the findings were reported on October 27, 2026.
- Where
- Starlink traffic in more than 100 countries, including some where the service was banned or restricted.
- Why
- Researchers suspect the bidding may have been intended to locate or monitor Starlink users. The sources do not establish that anyone was actually tracked.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Haaretz and Intelligence Online separately reported that Israeli-owned businesses were pitching ways to identify and track Starlink users.
TrendAI published a report about Starlink ad targeting, using the codename Shadow-Earth-79 without naming Discover-Tech.
Citizen Lab and Confiant published findings accusing Discover-Tech of abusing the ad bidding process.
Reports said six people familiar with the matter identified Shadow-Earth-79 as Discover-Tech.
- Countries
- Top bidder for Starlink ad impressions in 105 countries, according to TrendAI findings reported by Gizmodo
- Starlink ad share
- About 12.9% of winning ads in TrendAI’s Starlink sample
- General traffic baseline
- 2.6% of winning ads
- Argentina
- 91.3% of observed Starlink ad wins
- Philippines
- 89.1% of observed Starlink ad wins
- Japan
- 82.6% of observed Starlink ad wins
4 sources
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worldwide surveillance op targeting @Starlink users
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targeting and tracking infrastructure rather than a commercial advertising operation
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UPDATE: Israeli company we caught delivering zero-click infections is #1 bidder on Starlink ads in 105 countries. Data from @trendai_RSRCH suggests worldwide surveillance op targeting @Starlink users. 1/ By @razhael https://t.co/uWFzemhgnL
2/ Earlier this year two Israeli companies were exposed marketing ways to spy on @Starlink users, including: ☑️Locate Starlink users exact locations ☑️Identify the users, in some cases. Reporting by @omerbenj even had screenshots from a demo given in Vienna...